Dark Matter (R, 2008)

Inspired by a real-life series of events, DARK MATTER follows a Chinese post-graduate cosmology student, Liu Xing (Yi Liu), in his studies in America. Xing is brilliant and driven -- a fact that his advisor, Dr. Reiser (Aidan Quinn), is more than willing to take advantage of. But despite the help and attention provided by Chinese culture buff/philanthropist Joanna Silver (Meryl Streep), Xing has trouble adapting -- and when his work threatens to upstage Reiser's long-standing efforts in the field, Xing finds that he's being shut out of opportunities and advancement. Disgraced, unemployable, and desperate, Xing's despair culminates in a shocking, fatal act.

The feature-film debut of noted opera director Chen Shi-Zeng, Dark Matter only looks like a ticking-clock thriller; in fact, it's far subtler than that, as cultures clash yet human nature proves to be universal. As Xing's letters home go from optimistic hopes to out-and-out lies, viewers feel a rich, real sense of worry for him; Shi-Zeng captures both bold, beautiful images and intimate character moments. The performers are all superb, especially Liu's work as a bright, confident young man investigating the mysteries of the unseen mass -- dark matter -- that must be somewhere in the universe. And yet he's still battling a language barrier, finding his way in a new culture, and trying to negotiate his relationship with his superior, Dr. Reiser. When Xing notes how "no one pays attention to (dark matter), because they don't see it," he could be talking about himself.

Shi-Zeng isn't just a talented visual director and dramatist; Billy Shebar's carefully-crafted script has playful moments as well, like when the Chinese students, on a field trip to a "pioneer village," act out a Western-themed scenario that's shot like a scene from The Good, the Bad and the Ugly. And Xing's attempts to connect with a young woman at a local tea shop -- who confuses cosmology with cosmetology -- are warm and human. When Xing's frustration and despair boil over, the time we've spent with him makes his final, fateful act not merely shocking but also tragic.

Studio: First Independent Pictures
Director: Chen Shi-Zeng
Cast: Aidan Quinn, Meryl Streep, Ye Liu
Genre: Drama
Run time: 90 minutes
Theatrical release: April 16, 2008
DVD release: April 14, 2009
MPAA Rating: R
MPAA explanation: a scene of violence, brief sexual content and language